Audible Treats Audio Stream: One Be Lo - "War"

 

03.06.2008


"It's hard cuz you gotta live your life around man, so everywhere you turn it's a spiritual war, physical war, chemical war, mental and more..."


The Song:

 

One Be Lo's "War" is a hard-hitting, cerebral hip-hop cut championing the ideals of self-reliance in the face of adversity and perseverance during increasingly difficult times. A clip taken from the film Blue Collar, featuring Richard Pryor, is placed at the intro and outro of the song, summing up the aforementioned messages that the track conveys. One Be Lo recognizes the complex nature of conflict in contemporary society, as displayed by the line "It's hard cuz you gotta live your life around man, so everywhere you turn it's a spiritual war, physical war, chemical war, mental and more..." The beat underlying the vocals has a driving punch that nicely accompanies the song's heavy lyrical content; alongside the weighty drum beat and bass line is an amorphous keyboard part that fittingly brings the disparate parts together. With "War," One Be Lo accomplishes his goal of progressing the intelligent side of modern day hip-hop.

 

 

The Background:

 

One Be Lo first hit the hip-hop scene in the late '90s as OneManArmy, one half of the short-lived yet critically acclaimed duo Binary Star. Binary Star's second LP, Masters of the Universe, is regarded as an underground classic by many-- the album sold over 30,000 units independently and can be found today on eBay for upwards of $350. Skipping ahead to 2005, One Be Lo resurfaced on Fat Beats Records as a bona fide solo artist with S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. The album moved over 22,000 copies, becoming one of the year's most successful independent hip-hop releases. In 2007, One Be Lo released his sophomore LP as a solo artist, titled R.E.B.I.R.T.H., with a host of big-name producers ranging from Jake One to Vitamin D. One Be Lo has shared the stage with hip-hop giants KRS-One, Rakim, and the Wu-Tang Clan , and has toured the nation with Brother Ali, Soul Position, and Zion I. One Be Lo is also a dedicated activist, often connecting with the youth through speaking engagements and workshops. He is also a member of the World Champion B-boy crew, Massive Monkees.

 


Streams:

"War"

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/OneBeLo-War.mp3

 

"Born & Raised"

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/One_Be_Lo-Born_and_Raised.asx

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/OneBeLo-Born_and_Raised.mp3

 

"Gray"

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/One_Be_Lo-Gray.asx

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/OneBeLo-Gray.mp3

http://onebelo.imeem.com/music/8u9-Qdzc/one_be_lo_gray


Bio, pictures, and streams available here:
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/OneBeLo/

One Be Lo's MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/OneBeLo

One Be Lo's imeem page:
http://OneBeLo.Imeem.com



Please contact Michelle if interested in talking with One Be Lo.